Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Introduction

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet, philosopher, theologian, and literary critic. He was also a member of the Lake Poets. He was born on October 21, 1772. Along with working with Charles Lamb, Robert Southey, and Charles Lloyd, he also shared volumes with them.

He is well known for his prose work Biographia Literaria and his poetry Kubla Khan and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. His critical writings, particularly on William Shakespeare, had a significant impact and aided in the dissemination of German idealism philosophy among English-speaking societies. "Suspension of disbelief" is one of the numerous well-known terms and expressions that Coleridge created.

He had a significant impact on American transcendentalism and Ralph Waldo Emerson. It has been suggested that Coleridge had bipolar disorder, which was not diagnosed in his lifetime because he experienced debilitating episodes of anxiety and depression throughout his adult life. A childhood illness and an illness of rheumatic fever might have caused his physical ailments. He received laudanum treatment for these ailments, which led to a lifetime addiction to opium.

After his death, Coleridge's reputation increased, and he was regarded as one of the most significant people in English literature despite having a stormy personal and professional life full of highs and lows. For example, in 2018, The Guardian described him as "a genius" who had become "one of the most renowned English poets." Organizations like the Church of England honor his contributions by holding public celebrations like a June "Coleridge Day" that feature literary readings.

Personal Information

• Real Name: Samuel Taylor Coleridge
• Date of Birth: 21 October 1772
• Died: 25 July 1834
• Alma Mater: Jesus College, Cambridge
• Place of Birth: Ottery St Mary, Devon, England
• Place of Died: Highgate, Middlesex, England
• Occupation: Poet, philosopher, critic, moralist, theologian
• Literary Movement: Romanticism
• Children: 4, including Hartley, Sara and Derwent
• Spouse: Sara Fricker
• Relatives: James Coleridge (brother)

Early Life and Education

On October 21, 1772, Coleridge was born in the English county of Devon in the town of Ottery St. Mary. The father of Samuel was the Reverend John Coleridge, who served as the headmaster of the King's School, a free grammar school founded in Ottery St. Mary by King Henry VIII. He had previously taught at nearby Molland and served as master of Hugh Squier's School in South Molton, Devon.

By his first wife, John Coleridge had three children. Samuel was the tenth child born to Reverend Mr. Coleridge's second wife, Anne Bowden, who was most likely the daughter of South Molton, Devon, and Mayor John Bowden in 1726.

When Samuel was eight years old, he was moved to Christ's Hospital, a charity school established in the sixteenth century in Greyfriars, London, after John Coleridge passed away in 1781. There, he spent his early years learning and penning poetry. While attending that school, Coleridge read the writings of William Lisle Bowles and Virgil and became friends with Charles Lamb, a fellow student.

Remains

Coleridge is interred in the aisle of Highgate, London's St. Michael's Parish Church. In 1961, he was moved to St. Michael's Cemetery from his original location at Old Highgate Chapel, which was close to Highgate School's main entrance. From the green of his last home, where he resided with a physician, Coleridge could see the red door of the new church.

The coffins of Coleridge, his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and grandson were transferred to St. Michael's after an international fundraising campaign when it was found that Coleridge's vault had become derelict.

"They placed the coffins in a handy location that was dry and secure, and quite appropriate, bricked them up, and forgot about them," says Drew Clode, a member of St. Michael's stewardship committee. After some digging, it was discovered that the coffins were not where everyone had thought in the far corner of the crypt but rather beneath a memorial monument in the nave that said, "Beneath this stone lies the body of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Poetry

Coleridge holds a significant position in the annals of English poetry. Each of the great poets of the era was immediately and profoundly impacted by his poetry. Other writers regarded him as a diligent artist who was more demanding in his rewriting of his poetry than any other poet.

Coleridge may have been the main inspiration for Wordsworth's use of normal language to convey the deep lyrical pictures and concepts that made him so well-known. Coleridge had a significant influence on poetry, not just as a poet but also as a critic. His long-developed philosophy of poetry has had a significant impact on literary criticism.

Conclusion

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was a philosopher, English poet, literary critic, and theologian. He was a member of the Lake Poets also. He was born on October 21, 1772. Along with working with Charles Lamb, Robert Southey, and Charles Lloyd, he also exchanged volumes with them. He is well known for his prose work Biographia Literaria and his poetry Kubla Khan and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.